Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is hoping to manufacture cars outside the UK for the first time, including at a new plant in China, as the carmaker confirmed plans for more production in export markets.

JLR has expanded rapidly in its home UK market in recent years, adding 8,000 jobs owing to strong demand from markets such as China and the US. Its chief executive, Ralf Speth, said the Indian-owned company had to "go where the markets are". Speaking as JLR launched a new Range Rover built in Solihull, Speth said the next JLR plant will be near Shanghai if it receives approval from the Chinese government. "That is absolutely clear – the next one will be outside the UK," he said.

Speth added that plans to open an assembly plant in Brazil, similar to a JLR facility in India, where parts are shipped over and assembled, had been stymied by regulatory problems. "We really intend to go to Brazil and do something there. At the moment it is on hold because of the regulatory schemes, in terms of taxes and duties," he said. Speth declined to comment on reports that the Tata conglomerate, JLR's owner, is also interested in opening a car plant in Saudi Arabia.

Tony Woodley, the former joint leader of the Unite trade union, has raised concerns that JLR's expansion plans appear to be focused on the Bric nations, but Speth said JLR had underlined its commitment to the UK in recent years, including the introduction last month of 24-hour shifts at its Halewood plant on Merseyside. JLR owns three car plants in the West Midlands and Merseyside and has announced plans for an engine plant in Wolverhampton.

"Two and a half years ago we discussed closing plants here in the UK and I am happy we did not do so," said Speth. However, he refused to commit himself to further expansion in the UK. "A new plant is a huge investment, a huge commitment."

The Chinese project is a joint venture with China's Chery and will see JLR launch a new car alongside its own products.

Speth said a £370m upgrade of JLR's manufacturing facilities had enabled the birth of the fourth-generation Range Rover, which was unveiled on Thursday night in London. The Range Rover Sport was JLR's biggest seller last year, when the company sold more than 314,000 vehicles, up 29% on the previous year. Pre-tax profits increased by 35% to £1.5bn.